By the time Ambera Wellmann decided to go to university at the age of 25 she was oh so ready.

"The process of doing my degree matured me, as a person and as an artist," says Ambera (BFA 2011). "NSCAD is where I made my greatest friends and felt I truly belonged to a community."

Arriving with the desire to become a better technical painter, Ambera soon discovered that would never be enough. Pushed by the course content in Historical and Critical Studies, she says she was challenged to open up the meaning in her work. "It’s hard to explain," she says, after a long day in the studio. "Instead of just ascribing meaning to the subject matter of a painting, I want to facilitate an open-endedness, a questioning for people. As I’m working, I’m thinking a lot about what I want the work to achieve, and I want my audience to experience the same engagement and criticality."

Untitled Oil on wood panel, 40.6 x 50.8 cm; 16 x 20 in

From Bridgewater, N.S., Ambera thrived at NSCAD University. She won several awards for scholarly achievement, including the NSCAD Dean’s Award of Academic Excellence in 2010 and the Nova Scotia Talent Trust Scholarship in 2009—to name a few—and displayed her work in solo exhibitions and group shows. Her paintings are now carried by Seeds Gallery in Halifax, Bodell Fahey Gallery in New York and Ingrid Mueller Gallery in Fredericton, N.B.

And the kudos continue to stream in. Just recently, she was named a regional winner in the BMO Financial Group’s Ist Art! Invitational, a student art competition for graduating students.

There can be no doubt that painting is what she is meant to do. "Art embraces anything in the world as its subject matter, and for that reason it will always excite and challenge me," she remarks.

NSCAD's 2016-17 Annual Fund is dedicated to enhancing the student experience at NSCAD through scholarship and bursary support.

We invite you to make a gift to NSCAD's Annual Fund, either by using our online donation option or by downloading the Annual Fund donation form (PDF)

“I cannot wait to be at school this fall and grow, not only as an artist, but as a person as well. Thank you for the gift of opportunity. I will use it to the best of my human ability. This scholarship means the world to me and I will make you proud.” - Graham Ross (BFA 2019)

“This award makes a difference for me both financially and emotionally. To be recognized for my accomplishments is a boost to my confidence, as a student and an artist.” - Lindsay Jacquard (BFA 2016)

“When someone makes the choice to be an artist, it’s not easy. For a lot of people, they incur debts as students and then they graduate and find a job. But as an artist, you still might have to go through a period where you are developing a style and getting a career rolling. We want to recognize that struggle and support artists.” - Doug Pope, president of the Robert Pope Foundation

“While a student I was asked if I could ‘explain what is going on here.’ I thought for a moment and had no words to explain the range of experience I was receiving through NSCAD. Now, some 20 years later I still have no answer to that question but I do know that NSCAD changed my life. I hope that my little gifts of gratitude help the students of today along their chosen path of studies.” - NSCAD alumnus Brian Sloan (BFA 1993)